Markets Right Now: Stocks claw back from an early plunge

Specialist Anthony Rinaldi works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. U.S. stocks tumbled in early trading Thursday following a sell-off in overseas markets. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (Richard Drew)

December 6, 2018 at 9:03 AM CST - Updated December 6 at 7:23 PM

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

Stocks clawed back much of the ground they lost in an early plunge triggered by the arrest of a senior Chinese technology executive.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index ended slightly lower Thursday, having taken a nosedive in the morning.

Technology shares including Netflix moved higher.

Investors were encouraged by a report that the Federal Reserve may move slower in raising rates.

Bond yields remained lower as investors moved money into lower-risk investments.

Boeing, which would have much to lose in an extended trade battle, lost 3.1 percent.

The Dow lost 79 points, or 0.3 percent, to 24,947. It was down 784 earlier.

The S&P 500 lost 4 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,695. The Nasdaq rose 29 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,188.

___

11:45 a.m.

Stocks are plunging again as the arrest of a senior Chinese technology executive threatened to worsen trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

A steep drop in Boeing, which would suffer in an extended trade battle, helped drag the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 600 points Thursday.

Traders shoveled money into bonds, a signal they see weakness in the economy ahead.

The price of oil fell 3.8 percent as OPEC leaders gathered to discuss production cuts, which traders suspect may not reverse a plunge in crude.

The Dow fell 638 points, or 2.5 percent, to 24,392.

The S&P 500 index lost 61 points, or 2.3 percent, to 2,638. The Nasdaq dropped 117 points, or 1.7 percent, to 7,040.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.84 percent.

___

9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening sharply lower as the arrest of a senior Chinese technology executive threatened to worsen trade tensions between China and the U.S.

The price of oil also fell sharply early Thursday as OPEC leaders gathered to discuss possible cuts in production.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped as much as 500 points before erasing some of its losses.

Boeing and Caterpillar, which would stand to lose much in an extended trade battle, fell the most in the Dow.

Traders continued to shovel money into bonds, a signal that they see weakness in the economy ahead.

The Dow fell 390 points, or 1.6 percent, to 24,640.

The S&P 500 lost 36 points, or 1.3 percent, to 2,664. The Nasdaq gave up 99 points, or 1.4 percent, to 7,062.